1.3 mn people in India need cochlear implants

Mumbai, Dec 21 (UNI) As many as 1.3 million people in India are in need of cochlear implants, according to Dr Milind Kirtane, P D Hinduja Hospital.

''There are an estimated 1.3 million people in India, including infants, in need of cochlear implants but it is not always possible for families to relocate to the cities for the procedure and the auditory verbal therapy that follows,'' said Dr Kirtane.

In view of his the P D Hinduja Hospital will organise here the Second Cochlear Implant Update from December 22 to 23, a workshop to address the huge need of cochlear implants in the country.

The workshop is aimed at ENT surgeons, audiologists and educators for the hearing impaired, keen to start their own Cochlear Implant Programmes, said Dr Kirtane.

The workshop will also felicitate Meher K Vakeel, a pioneer in the field of education for the hearing impaired in India. Mrs Vakeel, who has dedicated over forty years of her life, to the education of the hearing impaired is credited with establishing The Education Audiology and Research Society, the first teacher training course for the hearing impaired in India.

UNI